What drew you to tech? Was it the excitement of solving complex problems? The impact of building something meaningful? The dream of shaping the future? Whatever your reason, you belong here.
Yet, for many women in tech, that sense of belonging doesn’t always feel secure. The challenges are real: imposter syndrome, lack of recognition, career plateaus, and the pressure to prove oneself twice as much. Leadership roles are still male-dominated, and navigating them as a woman often requires more than just skill; it demands resilience, support, and advocacy.
Why These Events Matter for Leaders
As leaders, whether we’re men or women, our job isn’t just to guide our teams to success; it’s to create an environment where everyone can thrive. Supporting women in tech meetups isn’t about “fixing” women’s experiences; it’s about actively shaping a culture of inclusion, recognition, and equity.
When women gather to share insights, struggles, and strategies, they’re not just networking. They’re building confidence, discovering solutions, and creating a stronger community that benefits everyone. And when leaders - especially men - support these spaces, they signal that inclusion isn’t just a women’s issue. It’s a leadership priority.
How Men Can Be the Best Allies
Being an ally goes beyond good intentions: it’s about consistent action. Here’s how men in leadership can truly support women in tech:
Make Room for Their Voices: If a woman in your team speaks up in a meeting, back her up. If she’s interrupted, redirect the conversation to her. Amplify women’s contributions rather than speaking over them.
Recognize Talent Fairly: Are promotions, opportunities, and high-impact projects distributed equitably? Check for unconscious bias in hiring, performance evaluations, and leadership pipelines. Ensure women are seen, heard, and given opportunities to lead.
Support Women-Focused Spaces Without Taking Over: Women in tech meetups exist because women need spaces to discuss challenges openly. Men are welcome as allies, but the key is to listen more than talk. Support these events through sponsorship, mentorship, and by actively encouraging the women on your team to attend.
Mentor and Sponsor Women: Be intentional about mentoring women and recommending them for leadership roles. Women don’t need “help” climbing the ladder - they need leaders who advocate for them in rooms where they aren’t present.
Recognize That Diversity Benefits Everyone: The challenges women face in tech, bias, exclusion, lack of sponsorship, are the same issues that impact other underrepresented groups. True allyship means supporting not just women, but all forms of diversity, including men who fall outside traditional norms (neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, men of color, etc.).
🐉 True Strength Lies in Collective Power
A lone dragon may be mighty, but a flight of dragons? Unstoppable.
Inclusion isn’t just about fairness; it’s about leveraging the full strength of our teams. Just as dragons soar higher when they ride the winds together, our industry thrives when we uplift every voice, champion every talent, and ensure that no one fights alone.
The greatest leaders aren’t the ones who hoard their power like treasure. They are the ones who ignite the flames of others, creating a world where everyone’s brilliance shines.
Invite a Woman in Tech to This Event
If you’re a leader, take one simple step today: personally invite a woman on your team to this event. Show her that you value her growth, her voice, and her place in tech.
🔥 Women in Tech Meetup: Purpose, Challenges, and Collective Wisdom: March 26th!
❤️🔥 What to Expect:
Reconnect with your purpose: Why did you choose tech, and what keeps you going?
Share your biggest challenge: What’s holding you back, and what do you need?
Help each other rise: Collective wisdom, insights, and fresh perspectives.
Take away real solutions: Practical learnings to apply in your career.
This is a safe, empowering space where women can connect, reflect, and grow together. Whether you’re a junior engineer or a senior leader, your story and wisdom matter.
Be the leader who takes action. Encourage a woman on your team to sign up. Better yet, sponsor attendance, support their development, and ensure their voices are heard beyond this event.
If you want to sponsor a future Women in Tech event by lending your workspace for a meetup (in the Netherlands), reach out to me.
🔥 Because when we lift each other up, we all rise. And when dragons fly together, they set the sky ablaze. 🔥
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